Page 223 of Unravelling The Beast

“What do you want?”

“I understand that what I did upset you. I can only apologize, Arlo, but I didn’t know what else to do at the time. Didn’t everything work out for the best? I mean, aren’t you happy?”

I narrow my eyes, feeling agitation swelling inside of me already.

“What the fuck am I supposed to be happy about? The fact that I murdered Bridget, or the fact that I assassinated my own father because he drugged me to do it?”

She sighs before taking a cautious step forward and placing her hand on my shoulder, resulting in me looking down at it.

“I know you’ll never get over it, Arlo. I don’t blame you, but you have a lot to look forward to now. You are now the king of New York’s deadliest criminal empire.”

When my eyes meet hers, I glare at her.

“Do you think any of that matters to me? It’s only brought me fucking misery.”

She takes her hand from my shoulder and searches my stern eyes as she responds.

“Because of your father, but he isn’t here anymore. You can now do things your way.”

I give her a cold stare, feeling fury wiping through me as I draw my face down to hers and expose my teeth to show my frustration.

“But you’re still fucking here.”

She turns her face away, folding her arms across her chest, and frowns as I continue.

“Maybe I’d be better off without both of my fucking parents because, from where I’m standing, you’re just as fucking bad as him!”

She closes her eyes as I insult her but remains silent, so I pull my angry eyes away from her and turn to return to my car.

When I get inside beside Wren, I can sense her looking at me, but I don’t look her way as I start the engine.

We remain silent while driving, and I drive with one hand on the top of the steering wheel, rubbing my slight stubble on my chin with the other until she reaches over and rests her small hand on my thigh.

I inhale deeply before placing mine over hers and curling my fingers around it as she speaks.

“Where are we going, Arlo? This isn’t the way home.”

I side-eye her, catching a glimpse of her looking at me, and then look ahead again before responding.

“You’re coming with me today; it’s about time I trained you the fuck up. You need to understand just how horrifying this world is.”

“But I’m pregnant.”

I calmly look over at her, and her face is full of concern as I speak.

“I’m not going on a killing spree today, Wren, so don’t worry. Nothing, or fucking no one, will cause you harm.”

I continue as I look at the road ahead once more.

“One day, you’ll undoubtedly find yourself protecting someone you love—even yourself. I’m not going to make the same mistake twice; I can’t fucking lose you either.”

I can feel her worried eyes on me as her fingers tighten a little more around mine.

We soon arrive at an abandoned warehouse I’m all too familiar with and I turn off the engine. I glance over at Wren, who still looks fearful and I make a head gesture to the door beside her.

“Get the fuck out; there’s nothing to be worried about. Nobody would dare hurt you while you’re with me.”

She gives a small, unsure nod before opening the door next to her, and I step out too before walking to the trunk and opening it.

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